Streets lined with restaurants along the Merrimack River
Close to the New Hampshire state line and along the Merrimack River, North Common sits about 30 miles from Boston. Part of the bustling city of Lawrence, the neighborhood offers a vibrant array of international restaurants along gridded streets that parallel a canal near the river. The eateries are complemented by Campagnone Common, which hosts the annual Semana Hispana Festival; the celebration lasts for a week during the summer, when the aromas of food and sounds of live music fill the air. “You also have big nightclubs where famous artists will come down to the city,” says Jefri Liriano, the principal broker and owner of Liriano Realty. “North Common is very diverse. It has all the businesses restaurants and clothing stores – you name it.”
North Common is also partially bounded by the Spicket River, which flows into the Merrimack and has its delta at the southeastern corner of the neighborhood. North Common’s proximity to Boston is a major draw for commuters who choose to make the neighborhood their home. “There are a lot of developments and a lot of new constructions,” Liriano says. “A lot of commuters are moving in. There’s easy access to the train to head to Boston, or any other town that you want to get to, and there’s easy access to the highway. The downtown has a lot of the nightlife.”
Downtown Lawrence's historical district near North Common showcases preserved architecture and the city's industrial past.
Located close to North Common, El Vago Cantina offers creative cocktails and bold dishes in a fun, festive atmosphere.
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International menus including Dominican and Spanish food
Many of North Common’s restaurants sit on or around Common and Essex Streets close to the Merrimack, but eateries are scattered throughout the neighborhood. “It’s lively,” Liriano says. “People come from Boston to eat here. If you want really authentic Spanish and Latino food, North Common is the place. It has it all from top to bottom.” Options in the area include Dominican fare at Grumpy G Restaurant or La Rubia Restaurant, Spanish food at Mir Tapas Lounge and baked goods at Heav’nly Donuts.
Latin American food is also on the menu at Terra Luna Restaurant, while Eleven Kitchen & Bar is a more upscale environment and Vaka Restaurant offers a Dominican-Japanese fusion concept served tapas-style. “Three of my top picks are Terra Luna, Eleven and Vaka,” Liriano says. “La Grekka Café Art & Lounge is super famous, and everybody goes to that café – sometimes you can’t even get in there. It’s like a high-end Starbucks, but Latino-style.” The café combines coffee and small foods with art and music. A Stop & Shop sits about 5 miles south of North Common in Andover.
El Vago Cantina near North Common serves modern Latin cuisine in a lively, colorful space that's full of flavor and local favorites.
A vibrant food truck near North Common adds to the energy of downtown Lawrence, serving up bold flavors and local favorites.
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Rising housing prices due to new constructions
North Common offers a variety of housing, with single-family homes, condos and multi-family homes all located within the neighborhood. “You’re looking at colonial-styles and a lot of multi-family homes,” Liriano says. “I grew up on Jackson Street, where there are a lot of multi-family homes. Most of them are colonial-styles.” Inventory is low, and multi-unit homes can cost upwards of $700,000. Single-family homes can sell for prices in the low $500,000 range. “That’s the entry level on single-family, turnkey homes in good shape,” Liriano says. “The price values of all those homes are rising, because more properties are coming in.” Condos can cost as low as around $150,000.
Near North Common, these condos blend convenience with Lawrence's industrial past.
Single-family homes near North Common offer private living in a setting that stays connected to the heart of the city.
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Cultural celebrations in North Common
The Semana Hispana festival takes place each year and celebrates Hispanic heritage at Campagnone Common. “For a week, there’s whole days dedicated to Hispanic culture,” Liriano says. “The fair comes over and big artists come over because there are big concerts every night. Locals also sing there, and the park is full of families.” Each day and night focuses on different countries, and along with performances, the festival also features a variety of food, dancing and more. The annual Feast of the Three Saints Labor Day weekend has endured for over 100 iterations of the festival. “That’s huge,” Liriano says. “They close the street down and it has a lot of food and music. It’s a really big event.”
Bands play to crowds at the Feast of Three Saints.
Families look forward every year for the fun at the Feast of Three Saints.
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Parks situated on the Spicket and Merrimack Rivers
Campagnone Common sits on the west side and is the community’s primary gathering space for outdoor recreation and events. “Campagnone Common is called Squirrel Park by locals,” Liriano says. “A lot of people exercise there. The park has a baseball field for Little League, a place where people sit and play dominoes and a playground. It’s a very nice park and the city hall is right in front of it.” Other green spaces include O’Neill Park, which has facilities for football, soccer and basketball, and Dr. Nina Scarito Park, which sits along the river and has picnic tables and a playground.
The Spicket and Merrimack Rivers make up three of the neighborhood’s four sides. “The river is very popular,” Liriano says. “In the summer, it’s full of boats and jet skis. People will put their boats in and go all the way up to Lowell and back.” The North Canal runs through southern North Common and there are parks near the water, including Pemberton Park, which has paths winding along the Merrimack.
Nina Scarito Park near North Common offers open green space, playground, and a peaceful place to unwind.
Campagnone Park by North Common provides a spacious setting for community events, strolls and family gatherings.
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Interstate 93 runs southward to Boston
Boston sits about 30 miles south of the Lawrence area by way of Interstate 93. “You have 495 right there and access to 93 to get to Boston quickly,” Liriano says. “Those are the big two. You have access to everywhere from North Common.” MBTA buses also stop on several streets in the neighborhood, and three airports sit nearby. “You have the Manchester airport in New Hampshire, the Boston airport and Lawrence has a municipal airport,” Liriano says. “You also have Lawrence General Hospital, one of the top hospitals around. A lot of people from areas outside of Lawrence come there to be taken care of.” The hospital sits just east across the Spicket River, about half a mile from central North Common.
A quartet of education stops for North Common students
The neighborhood is served by Lawrence Public Schools, which earns an overall grade of B-minus from Niche. Students can begin at the John Breen School, which receives a B-minus and teaches pre-kindergarten and kindergarten levels south of the Merrimack River. On North Common’s side of the water, kids can then move on to the C-minus-rated Francis M. Leahy School for grades one through five and then to the UP Academy Leonard Middle School, which also gets a C-minus. Lawrence High School receives a B-minus, and students have the opportunity to participate in 30 varsity-level sports and JROTC program.
The main entrance to the historic Lawrence High School in Lawrence, MA.
Francis M. Leahy School in Lawrence has an overall grade of C- on Niche.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Juan Lopera-Martinez,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Campagnone Common
Lawrence Heritage State Park
Bike Trails
Fishing
Picnic Area
O'Neil Park
Transit
Airport
Manchester Boston Regional
42 min drive
Bus
Common Street - Lawrence City Hall
Bus
Common Street & Lawrence Street
Bus
Common Street & Union Street
Bus
Essex Street & Newbury Street
Bus
Union Street & Island Street
Bus
Lawrence Public Library
Bus
Jackson Street & Oak Street
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in North Common, Lawrence sell after 11 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in North Common, Lawrence over the last 12 months is $253,725, up 12% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Juan Lopera-Martinez,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
7,419
Median Age
34
Population under 18
27.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.7%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$36,559
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$50,172
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
68.7%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
17.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.7%
% Population in Labor Force
57%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
35''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
48/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
90/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
42/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
